Scientific Foundations Of Jainism - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of "The Scientific Foundations of Jainism" by K.V. Mardia, based on the provided text:

Book Title: The Scientific Foundations of Jainism Author: K.V. Mardia Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt Ltd

Overall Aim and Approach:

Professor Mardia's book aims to elucidate Jainism as a science integrated with religion, demonstrating how its core principles align with modern scientific thinking. The author constructs four fundamental axioms as the bedrock of Jainism, focusing on its essence rather than intricate details. The book systematically introduces these axioms, discusses their theoretical and applied aspects, and explores their plausibility in a contemporary context. It links Jain logic with current scientific trends and utilizes sharper scientific and pictorial representations where possible, minimizing the use of original Jain terms to ensure clarity and flow.

Foreword by Paul Marett:

Paul Marett highlights that the book is divided into three parts:

Explanation of Basic Ideas: It covers the soul, karma, living and non-living matter, and their integration into the Jain explanation of life, death, and the universe.
Individual Path to Purification: It moves from general concepts to the practice of self-conquest and the individual soul's journey toward purification.
Jain Logic and Modern Physics: It positions Jain logic as a valid system and draws parallels between fundamental aspects of modern physics and Jain scientific theories.

Marett emphasizes that the book is valuable for modern Jains seeking relevance in ancient texts and for non-Jains approaching Jainism with rational inquiry, calling it an important contribution to Jain literature.

Preface by K.V. Mardia:

Professor Mardia notes a contemporary revival in understanding Jainism, particularly among young Jains abroad. He posits that Jainism is founded on assessable scientific principles and introduces four key axioms. The book's genesis was his 1975 inaugural address, and it was further inspired by Professor P.S. Jaini's work. Mardia assumes a basic understanding of mathematics and physics from the reader to facilitate the use of scientific and pictorial representations. The book is intended to help teenagers embrace Jainism through conviction rather than just birth.

The book's structure includes an introduction to Jainism and the four axioms (Chapter 1), followed by chapters exploring the axioms and their modern context (Chapters 2-7). It then covers basic practices (Chapter 8), Jain logic (Chapter 9), and the relationship between Jainism and modern science (Chapter 10). Appendices cover Mahavira's life, Jain scriptures, citations, and a "snakes and ladders" analogy for purification stages.

Mardia acknowledges the difficulty in translating Jain concepts from Prakrit/Sanskrit to Greek-rooted modern scientific terminology, stressing the dedication required to grasp Jainism's technical basis, much like understanding Einstein's theories.

Key Concepts and Axioms:

The book is structured around four core axioms:

Axiom 1: The Soul and Karmic Matter: The soul (Jiva) exists in association with karmic matter (karmons). This karmic matter obscures the soul's inherent pure qualities (knowledge, perception, bliss, energy) and creates negative effects. The soul, however, has an inherent "freedom longing catalyst" to be purified. Karmic matter is described as sub-atomic particles called karmons that can only be absorbed by the soul.
Axiom 2: Hierarchy of Life: Living beings differ based on the density and types of karmic matter attached to their souls. Purer souls lead to higher forms of life. This is quantified through a "life-axis" where insentient objects have zero life-units and pure souls have infinite life-units. The hierarchy is detailed by the number of senses and intelligence, ranging from one-sensed organisms (microbes, plants) to five-sensed beings (animals, humans).
Axiom 3: Cycles of Birth and Death: Karmic bondage propels the soul through a cycle of rebirths. At death, the soul, encased in a "karmic body" and "karmic capsule," is transported to its next incarnation based on the accumulated karmic matter. This matter differentiates into eight specific karmic components (primary and secondary) that influence the future life. The universe is described as composed of six "existents": soul, matter, space, time, dynamic medium, and stationary medium.
Axiom 4 (A, B, C): The Practical Application of Karma:
- Axiom 4A: Karmic fusion occurs due to five agents: perverted views, non-restraint, carelessness, passions, and activities (yoga of body, mind, speech). These agents undermine the soul's inherent qualities.
- Axiom 4B: Violence (to self or others) generates the heaviest karmic matter, while positive non-violence (helping others towards moksa) creates the lightest. Violence is broadly defined to include various volitional acts.
- Axiom 4C: Austerity is the mechanism for creating a "karmic shield" against new karmons and for shedding old karmic matter. This process is detailed through "fourteen purification stages."

Jain Logic and Modern Science:

The book explores Jain logic, particularly the principles of Syadvada (conditional predication, suggesting "maybe" from different standpoints) and Anekantavada (holistic principle, viewing reality from multiple perspectives). These principles are presented as foundational to Jain reasoning and are compared to modern scientific approaches like probability and the need for a holistic view.

Chapter 10 draws explicit parallels between Jain scientific concepts and modern physics:

Particle Physics: Jainism's concept of "karmons" is compared to elementary particles, and Jain logic's probabilistic nature aligns with quantum theory.
Evolution: The hierarchy of life based on karmic density is presented as a broader concept than Darwinian evolution, explaining the individual mechanism of life's evolution.
Matter-Energy Exchange: The Jain concept of "Pudgala" (matter) inherently includes the exchangeability of matter and energy, a principle later articulated by Einstein.
Fundamental Forces: Jainism's "karmic force" is suggested as a potential additional fundamental force that could explain non-physical phenomena. The "dynamic and stationary media" are also linked to fundamental forces.

Practices and Purification:

The book details the path to self-conquest through austerities, which include restraint, watchfulness, righteousness, reflection, and mastery over afflictions. These practices are mapped onto the fourteen purification stages, representing a progression from gross karmic density to the liberated state of the soul. The "Three Jewels" of Jainism—Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct—are presented as sequential goals achieved through these stages.

Mahavira's Life:

An appendix provides a biographical account of Mahavira, highlighting his spiritual quest, austerities, enlightenment (Kevalajñāna), and his role as a Tirthankara who preached equality and self-responsibility, emphasizing compassion and non-violence.

Conclusion:

"The Scientific Foundations of Jainism" argues that Jainism offers a coherent, scientific framework for understanding the universe and the individual's place within it. It bridges ancient Jain philosophy with modern scientific discoveries, suggesting that Jain principles offer profound insights into consciousness, matter, and the nature of reality. The book emphasizes that science without religion is "lame" and religion without science is "blind," echoing Einstein's views.